American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 3
1
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spoke with Moses in mount Sinai.
Reference
References Moses
Exodus 6:20
2
And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Reference
3
These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
Reference
4
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Reference
References Lord
Numbers 26:61
5
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
6
Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
7
And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Reference
8
And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
9
And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel.
Reference
References Israel
Numbers 8:19
10
And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
Reference
11
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
12
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that opens the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
Reference
13
Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: my shall they be: I am the LORD.
Reference
14
And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15
Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number them.
Reference
17
And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 46:11
18
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 6:17
20
And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
Reference
21
Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
22
Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
23
The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
Reference
Temple
Numbers 1:53
24
And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
People
25
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
Reference
Temple
Exodus 25:9
26
And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
Reference
Temple
Exodus 35:18
27
And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 26:23
28
In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
29
The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
Reference
Temple
Numbers 1:53
30
And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31
And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
32
And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
33
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34
And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
35
And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.
Reference
People
36
And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serves thereto,
Reference
37
And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
38
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
Reference
39
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:62
40
And the LORD said to Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 3:15
41
And you shall take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the children of Israel.
Reference
42
And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
43
And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and three score and thirteen.
44
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
45
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
Reference
References Israel
Numbers 3:12
46
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and three score and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;
Reference
Redemption
Exodus 13:13
47
You shall even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)
Reference
48
And you shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.
49
And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
50
Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and three score and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
51
And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Reference
Redemption
Numbers 3:48
Summary of Numbers 3
Numbers 3 deals with the tribe of Levi and the special ministry the Lord had given to them in caring for the tabernacle. The Levites had not been numbered with the fighting men but had been set apart to serve in a particular capacity and were distributed throughout the camp. In addition, the chapter contains information about the sons of Aaron, their duties, and the Levitical families and their responsibilities to the tabernacle.
The chapter opens with a statement about the sons of Aaron, who were set apart to serve as priests before the Lord. Their names were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The first two had perished before the Lord because of their sin, and Eleazar and his brother Ithamar had served with their father Aaron until Eleazar had a special ministry ahead of him.
The Lord instructed Moses to bring near the tribe of Levi to Aaron to serve and assist him and his sons in their ministry. It should be noted that while Aaron and his sons had a priestly order, the Levites were to serve alongside Aaron’s family in a different capacity.
They were set apart to serve at the tabernacle and ensure it was cared for. Moreover, the Lord warned that those not qualified should not minister at the sanctuary. This shows that the Levites had a special role to play since they served under Aaron and his sons and took care of the holy things – they were responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the Tabernacle was maintained.
The chapter goes on to describe the families of Levi – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. They were to serve at different aspects of the Tabernacle and had various duties.
The descendants of Gershon had the responsibility of caring for the hangings, the boards, and all other things that went into the making of the Tabernacle. In addition, they had to ensure they stored and handled these things with great care since they were used to minister before the Lord.
The Kohathites had the responsibility of ministering to the most holy things in the tabernacle. They were responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the candlestick, and all other vessels that were used. However, they were not allowed to gaze at the holy things. It is only the priests who were to prepare and set these items before the Lord. It is noteworthy that the Kohathites had to carry these things as the Israelites traveled and had to put them down when they reached their destination.
Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was placed in charge of all the other Levitical families and was responsible for overseeing the oil for the lamp, the incense, the continual meat offering, and the anointing oil. In addition, Eleazar was to take charge of the tabernacle and everything that went with it. His position made him the second in command, equal to the priests and in charge of his tribe, the Kohathites.
The Merari clan had the task of taking care of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and other items needed to put up and take down the tabernacle. They played a crucial role as the Israelites had to set up the tent when they reached their destination and take it down so that they could travel.
The chapter ends with a description of the number of Levitical males who were one month old and above – 22,000. They were the ones who were counted individually, unlike the Israelites, who had been counted as a nation. Their special duties made them eligible to serve and care for the tabernacle and its furnishings.
The Lord instructed Moses to number the firstborn Israelite males and make them responsible for serving alongside the Levites since the firstborn had been claimed by the Lord during the plague in Egypt. However, the Levites had been set apart for this duty, so the Lord instructed Moses to have the firstborn Israelites pay a ransom fee. The Levites were substitutes for the firstborn, and so Moses was to get five shekels from each of the Israelites who had brought their sons to be numbered and give the amount to Aaron and his sons as ransom.
Numbers 3 shows the special attention God pays to Israel and His care for the Israelites to see them safely to their destination. The priests had a specific order and different duties from the Levites, who in turn had different tasks from one another. Moreover, the Levitical families were to serve the priests and the Kohathites and tend to all matters in the tabernacle. The division of duties shows how seriously the Lord takes the service of Israel and the tabernacle.
The chapter shows how deeply the Levitical tribe was involved with the Israelites. The Levites and their descendants were to serve and care for the tabernacle and had to follow the orders of Aaron and his sons closely. It is notable that while Moses instructed the Israelites to set up the tabernacle, the Levites had to do the actual work.
The chapter prepares the reader for the subsequent verses dealing with Israel’s journey, particularly in relation to the tabernacle. The Levites were to serve the Lord and were not ordinary Israelites as they had to care for the tabernacle and its furnishings and ensure that its services were not interrupted.
The chapter opens with a statement about the sons of Aaron, who were set apart to serve as priests before the Lord. Their names were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The first two had perished before the Lord because of their sin, and Eleazar and his brother Ithamar had served with their father Aaron until Eleazar had a special ministry ahead of him.
The Lord instructed Moses to bring near the tribe of Levi to Aaron to serve and assist him and his sons in their ministry. It should be noted that while Aaron and his sons had a priestly order, the Levites were to serve alongside Aaron’s family in a different capacity.
They were set apart to serve at the tabernacle and ensure it was cared for. Moreover, the Lord warned that those not qualified should not minister at the sanctuary. This shows that the Levites had a special role to play since they served under Aaron and his sons and took care of the holy things – they were responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the Tabernacle was maintained.
The chapter goes on to describe the families of Levi – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. They were to serve at different aspects of the Tabernacle and had various duties.
The descendants of Gershon had the responsibility of caring for the hangings, the boards, and all other things that went into the making of the Tabernacle. In addition, they had to ensure they stored and handled these things with great care since they were used to minister before the Lord.
The Kohathites had the responsibility of ministering to the most holy things in the tabernacle. They were responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the candlestick, and all other vessels that were used. However, they were not allowed to gaze at the holy things. It is only the priests who were to prepare and set these items before the Lord. It is noteworthy that the Kohathites had to carry these things as the Israelites traveled and had to put them down when they reached their destination.
Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was placed in charge of all the other Levitical families and was responsible for overseeing the oil for the lamp, the incense, the continual meat offering, and the anointing oil. In addition, Eleazar was to take charge of the tabernacle and everything that went with it. His position made him the second in command, equal to the priests and in charge of his tribe, the Kohathites.
The Merari clan had the task of taking care of the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and other items needed to put up and take down the tabernacle. They played a crucial role as the Israelites had to set up the tent when they reached their destination and take it down so that they could travel.
The chapter ends with a description of the number of Levitical males who were one month old and above – 22,000. They were the ones who were counted individually, unlike the Israelites, who had been counted as a nation. Their special duties made them eligible to serve and care for the tabernacle and its furnishings.
The Lord instructed Moses to number the firstborn Israelite males and make them responsible for serving alongside the Levites since the firstborn had been claimed by the Lord during the plague in Egypt. However, the Levites had been set apart for this duty, so the Lord instructed Moses to have the firstborn Israelites pay a ransom fee. The Levites were substitutes for the firstborn, and so Moses was to get five shekels from each of the Israelites who had brought their sons to be numbered and give the amount to Aaron and his sons as ransom.
Numbers 3 shows the special attention God pays to Israel and His care for the Israelites to see them safely to their destination. The priests had a specific order and different duties from the Levites, who in turn had different tasks from one another. Moreover, the Levitical families were to serve the priests and the Kohathites and tend to all matters in the tabernacle. The division of duties shows how seriously the Lord takes the service of Israel and the tabernacle.
The chapter shows how deeply the Levitical tribe was involved with the Israelites. The Levites and their descendants were to serve and care for the tabernacle and had to follow the orders of Aaron and his sons closely. It is notable that while Moses instructed the Israelites to set up the tabernacle, the Levites had to do the actual work.
The chapter prepares the reader for the subsequent verses dealing with Israel’s journey, particularly in relation to the tabernacle. The Levites were to serve the Lord and were not ordinary Israelites as they had to care for the tabernacle and its furnishings and ensure that its services were not interrupted.